What do wrappers from discontinued candies, menus from long-closed restaurants, and postcards from vanished tourist sites have in common? These are all examples of cultural artifacts featured in the Ephemeral Objects Cluster of vocabulary in context questions.
On first thought, studying these ephemeral or short-lived objects seems frivolous. However, SAT test writers point out that they are all MANIFESTATIONS or visible signs that reveal shifts in cultural patterns.
MANIFESTATIONS OF is a particularly important answer in this cluster. Test writers sometimes use INDICES (indicators), ATTEST (to confirm the presence of something), and EVINCE (to show or demonstrate) as closely related synonyms of MANIFESTATION.
Be especially alert for REGISTER as a possible answer in the Ephemeral Objects Cluster. While most people associate REGISTER with official records of births, marriages, and deaths it can also be used as a verb meaning to provide or display information. For example, wrappers from discontinued candies can be used to REGISTER shifts in cultural norms and values.
The Ephemeral Objects Cluster contains a number of tempting wrong answers. For example, PRECLUDE meaning to prevent something from happening, CONJECTURE meaning to form a hypothesis, and INDUCE meaning to persuade or influence someone to do something all do not fit the context of an Ephemeral Objects Cluster question.
MANIFESTATIONS – visible signs of something
INDICES – indicators
ATTEST – to confirm the presence of something
EVINCE – to show or demonstrate
REGISTER – to provide or display information